Blum opens new state-of-the-art Experience Centre at its UK HQ in Milton Keynes

Blum, renowned fittings supplier to the KBB sector, has launched a brand new immersive facility at its UK offices and warehouse in Milton Keynes. The Experience Centre is 11,500sq.ft of interactive experience: "A place where ideas and relationships are brought to life," explains David Sanders, Blum UK sales & marketing director.

"It's a state-of-the-art facility, where our partners can experience not only Blum's products but also its services, its people, its heritage and culture." (Please note: All visitors must have an appointment - call 0800 917 5550 to book).

Heritage :

Designed by Think Architecture & Design, the centre starts with a 'welcome pod', a reception area that transports visitors into the world of Blum. Leave your commute behind you as you step into the Blum experience - an immersive environment where your senses will be awakened. The company is steeped in heritage. Blum is still a family owned business, founded by Julius Blum on 1st March 1952. Blacksmiths by trade, the family started selling their first hinge in 1958 and this was the start of Blum's entry into the furniture industry. In the new Experience Centre, visitors' senses will be transported back to the original foundry with sights, sounds and even scents evoking the era.

Investment:

The Experience Centre is based around the principles of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and it's a testament to the investment that the company is making within the industry. "We make a huge commitment every year to invest in the infrastructure of our business," adds David Sanders. "We have 28 subsidiaries globally, export to over 120 countries and have four production plants. We invest not only in buildings but also our people. We are extremely proud of our apprenticeship programme in Austria and the US and have 306 apprentices training this year."

Research & Development:

Demonstrating a real: passion for research and development, the Centre also includes a virtual reality experience with a 3D movie of the manufacturing process, a fully kitted out apartment that showcases Blum's extra-wide and deep drawers that can hold up to 70kg in weight, as well as 1.8m wide bi-fold lift systems and more. "We have a passion for research and development," says David, "and we are always pushing boundaries, innovating new products and services and exploring new technologies."

Quality & Testing:

Beyond industry standard testing, Blum continually tests not only its products but also all its production equipment. "We design and build all our own tooling and can stand by our Lifetime Guarantee," says David. "We always make three of every tool - one in production, one in maintenance and one on standby - this way we never let our customers down."

Experience Training Facility:

For retailers and manufacturers, the Centre encompasses an innovative Experience Training Facility and includes a Technical Room, Retailer Room? and Consumer Room. In the training centre, which can cater for up to 50 delegates, Blum offers state-of-the-art courses for the industry in technical training and retail services The consumer room includes full-sized, movable cabinets so they can test-drive their kitchen in an area that also showcases the latest products.